At Tuesday night’s meeting, the issue of stray dogs was brought up once again by Garland mayor Anthony Johnson.
“We have to get a handle on these dogs because we have a real problem,” Johnson told board members (Liz Johnson, Denise Toler, Haywood Johnson and Coleman Johnson. SJ. Smith was out due to illness). “I have seen at least 13 strays running around ... these dogs have to be caught.”
Johnson then asked if the board should consider hiring an employee to try and curb the strays.
“Maybe just for part-time for 30 days?,” he asked. “Just to have someone in place, solely to focus on only catching the dogs; to get them and lock them up.”
Board member Coleman Johnson then suggested that a catching-noose would help catch the dogs.
“Those are just like the dog catchers use,” he said. “They work, and that would help us at least get them so we could call Animal Control.”
“Hey, at this point, I am for doing whatever it takes,” mayor Johnson said. “Because, we really need to get them off the streets.”
Although commissioner Haywood Johnson volunteered for the job, mayor Johnson asked town clerk Teresa Vault to call and check into the legalities of hiring a position for 30 days, specifically to catch the animals.
However, on Wednesday morning, Vault said that after checking with Susan Holder, Sampson County Animal Control director, the town will put Johnson’s idea on “hold” for now.
“Mrs. Holder told me that they have recently hired a third full-time person for the shelter,” Vault said. “So for right now, everything is on hold.”
The town will see if the results of the recent hire at Animal Control will take some of the roaming mutts off the Garland streets and address the issue again at next month’s board meeting.
To reach Doug Clark call (910) 592-8137 ext. 139 or send email to sisports@intrstar.net.
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